One of the first things I thought of when I saw the Cain headlines at Politico was the striking similarities to the Anita Hill allegations of sexual misconduct against then-Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas in 1991. The stature and presence of both Thomas and Cain are so similar and the unsubstantiated accusations so nefariously alike that it's hard not to draw a corollary. Was this just a copycat fad of the time? I wonder if other people made the same deja vu association when reading it the first time?

Neo has a piece up on the parallels and how hard it is for a man to defend against a deck so stacked against him. It's a he said, she said game that can never have any substantial proof in anyone's favor. But in today's highly charged political climate, guilty until proven innocent certainly seems the sad and sensational norm. I give it about as little credence as I gave the Kim-Kris wedding sham. And that's pretty little.

CHURCH OF THE WHOLLY LIVING PIETIESBIG FRAME: HIGH-TECH LYNCHING OF HERMAN CAIN AUTHOR BRIAN HOEY has written a book on the royal family due out next summer to whet our never-ending fascination with all things British monarchy. Meanwhile, Tom Sykes @ The Daily Beast pilfers an advance copy and offers some of the high/low points of its daily life. No wonder Kate and William love living off the coast of Wales, doing their own shopping, cooking and cleaning! Ah, the joys of privacy! Below are two excerpts:

PRINCE CHARLES IS A CLOTHESHORSE WHO GETS HIS SHOELACES IRONED

Prince Charles employs 133 staff to look after him and Camilla, more than 60 of them domestics: chefs, cooks, footmen, housemaids, gardeners, chauffeurs, cleaners, and his three personal valets—gentleman’s gentlemen—whose sole responsibility is the care of their royal master’s extensive wardrobe and choosing what he is to wear on any particular day. A serving soldier polishes the prince’s boots and shoes every day—he has 50 handmade pairs each costing over £800 by Lobb of St James’s—and a housemaid washes his underwear as soon as it is discarded. Nothing Charles or Camilla wears is ever allowed near a washing machine. Particular attention is paid to handkerchiefs, which are monogrammed and again all hand-washed, as it was found that when they were sent to a laundry, some would go missing—as souvenirs. HRH’s suits, of which he has 60, cost more than £3,000 each, and his shirts, all handmade, cost £350 a time (he has more than 200), while his collar stiffeners are solid gold or silver. Charles’s valets also iron the laces of his shoes whenever they are taken off.

THE ROYAL HOUSEHOLD KNEW OBAMA'S PREFERRED TOILET PAPER

When President Obama arrived for a state visit in May 2011 with his wife, Michelle, he was astounded at the attention to detail that accompanied their two-day stay. The palace officials had even found out what sort of toilet paper the Obamas preferred in their bathroom (thickness, consistency, and color), their favorite flowers, and whether they liked sheets and blankets (wool or cotton) or duvets on their beds.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

WOULD YOU BE HOLY? Would you become a new creature? Then begin with Christ! You will do nothing, until you feel your sin and weakness—and flee to Him! He is the beginning of all holiness. He is not only wisdom and righteousness to His people—but sanctification also. People sometimes try to make themselves holy first—and sad work they make of it! They toil, labor, and turn over many new leaves, and make many changes—and yet they feel nothing bettered, but rather worse. They run in vain and labor in vain! Little wonder, for they are beginning at the wrong end! They are building up a wall of sand; their work runs down as fast as they throw it up. They are baling water out of a leaky vessel. The leak gains on them, not they on the leak. Other foundation of holiness, can no person lay, than that which Paul laid, even Christ Jesus. Without Christ, we can do nothing.

IF, THEN, you would deal wisely with your child, you must not leave him to the guidance of his own will. Think for him, judge for him, act for him, just as you would for one weak and blind; but for pity’s sake, give him not up to his own wayward tastes and inclinations. It must not be his likings and wishes that are consulted. He knows not yet what is good for his mind and soul, any more than what is good for his body. You do not let him decide what he shall eat, and what he shall drink, and how he shall be clothed. Be consistent, and deal with his mind in like manner. Train him in the way that is scriptural and right, and not in the way that he fancies.

I have little faith in Papandreou's socialist PASOK government's ability to adhere to the agreement...I feel it may be one, if not THE, stumbling block in this whole eurozone mess. Greece will be dragged down perhaps for a decade or more because I don't see them instituting the necessary free market reforms that will spur future growth. I also don't believe it will be easy to dismantle the elaborate social welfare system there without political unrest. I wonder if not only the Papandreou will last long, but if a democratic form of government in Greece will last long.

And Greece is not the only problem. Spain and Italy are large economies and face similar problems, just not quite the scale of Greece's. It all comes down to their ability to fund their excessive debt. Even France is being warned about its credit rating.

The EMU is built on a weak foundation. They allowed in countries that according to the Maastricht Treaty were not supposed to run deficits of more than 3% of GDP, yet they all did, even Germany. They allowed their members to spend and borrow without regard to economic reality and now the money has run out. At some point one wonders if Germany will be outvoted and they elect to bail out debt through inflation by printing money.

A MUST-WATCH IMO. While I don't agree with everything that's said here, I do concur with a lot. No corporation should be too big to fail. Corporate welfare in this country for the big banks is out of control and should end. Period. Heartening that both men think the Democrats are to blame big time for the mess we're in. Would have thought these liberal commenters would have bashed just the Republicans. Of course there are no easy answers and there's plenty of blame/responsibility to go around.

I admit I think some good will come from these unruly protests because it's calling attention to most taxpayers' deepest concerns: we're sick and tired of bailing out everyone and his brother, especially the fat cat, opulent Wall Street bankers! Nothing is allowed to fail anymore, so no one ever learns from their mistakes. I don't think OWS is an organized movement with a common focus, nor ever will be. Still, it serves some purpose and will have to play out to see if it has a worthy component that is productive to all of us taxpayers.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

CALLING CHEVY CHASE: HERE'S ONE OF THOSE WILD VACATION STORIES---borrowing a good friend's RV in Florida, then driving it West--- that's pretty bad, but could've been even worse. Nobody gets seriously hurt so we're allowed to laugh out loud even when we don't think we should. OK, go on. Actually, it's a Three Stoogies kind of cautionary tale we laugh at no matter what.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

I shall lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.He will not suffer thy foot to be moved; he that keepeth thee will not slumber nor sleep.The Lord is thy keeper: the Lord is thy shade upon thy right hand.The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil; he shall preserve thy soul.The Lord shall preserve thy going out and coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.Amen.

ELSEWHERE: STEM SellsFRIDAY WAS A SUNNY, COOL AND BREEZY day for spectacular hiking with outdoorsy friends in the mountains outside Tri-Cities in NE Tennessee. There is already snow on the tops of faraway mountains.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

WHAT EVERY CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE should be saying. The government never creates jobs or prosperity. Our president doesn't seem to know it nor do most of our elected officials in Washington. What a shame.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

PASTOR MIKE ATKINS CONTINUES HIS NEW SERIES and expands from last week. He presents the false 'religious' ideas we often labor under, then sets the record straight on what it really means to be a follower of Christ and how we can do nothing less His Spirit lives in us.

He must increase, but I must decrease. ---John 3:30, spoken by John the Baptist of Jesus.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

It's turning fall fast in the East and no where is more beautiful than the drive up I-81 through Virginia and the Shennandoah Valley. Been raining the whole way, but even that can't spoil the color changes and soft beauty all around. Hoping to catch an early morning hike on the AT outside Troutville, VA Friday if the rain lets up. Otherwise, I'll run by Harpers Ferry, WV and the AT headquarters on my way into D.C. It's a lovely, cool time of year to tour. And by the time I get to Manhattan and the Gs, the sun should be shining.

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

FOUND THIS INTEREVIEW with Ron Paul interesting and informative. It covers a wide range of subjects including his and his family's faith, why he left the Episcopal Church, the issues of abortion and its government legislation and how best to tackle poverty in America. Over and over he emphasizes personal responsibility and concludes the government---especially the federal government---cannot legislate morality. I couldn't agree more.

In this interview with Christianity Today, Paul elaborates. From the introduction in CT:

Texas Rep. Ron Paul won a straw poll at the Family Research Council's Values Voters Summit on October 8, receiving 37 percent of the vote at the social conservative convention. Family Research Council President Tony Perkins downplayed the results some, saying that 600 people registered Saturday morning left after Paul spoke. "I think people are still in the process of deciding where they want to go," Perkins told reporters. Herman Cain took 23 percent and former Sen. Rick Santorum took 16 percent. Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann won 8 percent while former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney received 4 percent of the vote.

In his speech, Paul emphasized personal responsibility, using the example of Jesus' response to prostitution. "He didn't call for more laws. But he was very direct and thought that stoning was not the solution to the problem of prostitution," he told the crowd. "So do laws take care of these things, or do we need a better understanding of our Christian values and our moral principles?"

Monday, October 10, 2011

BEEN STEWING ALL WEEKEND, and still haven't come up with a satisfactory resolution. Time is running out, so I'll be forced to make a decision soon.

Here's my dilemma: do I keep cleaning out my closets of old and over-sized clothes---size 8s now that I'm a solid 6 again--- take them to my favorite crisis pregnancy center---CareNet in Dickson, TN, 35 miles from Nashville---or get myself dolled up for polite society and go to the reception prior to the funeral of an old friend and conservation colleague I've hardly seen in years?

I think to myself why not do both? Because I'm leaving for the East coast later this week and my time is crowded. My closets are begging for attention, purging. Many of my clothes are welcomed with open arms at places like Carenet.

I hate going to funerals. Anyway, I already attended one two weeks ago after getting back from Wyoming. And now this one.

The biggest reason I hesitate going is it's one of those big society funerals, the kind---sure people go to pay their respects--- but then many go to to see and be seen. Ugh, double ugh! It will be a bone crusher.

I bailed out of the social scene long, long ago to live a simpler life, chase the trout and hike high moutains. I love keeping a low profile when I'm back here.

Interestingly at the funeral I recently attended, several people I haven't seen in decades, if ever, knew almost everything about me except my social security number. I seem to be elusive enough to sometimes be the subject of conjecture and gossip, though my life is about as unglamorous and routine, especially to me, as it gets.

Anyway as I write this with piles of old clothes stacked up in my front hallway, think I'm going to Carenet this morning and send out a prayer to this man's family and hope to convey my condolences to his sweet widow in the grocery store one day.

The most fun memory I have of him is together we stormed out of a conservation meeting with Tennessee state officials with great drama and fanfare years ago. It got everyone's attention and we both thought it was the most fun thing we'd done in ages! It was a bonding experience if there ever was one: storming out of a government meeting!

I feel like a smuck for being so cavalier about this, but cleaning out my closets and taking the stuff to CareNet still seems like a holier place to be today.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

THIS IS THE FIRST OF A NEW SERIES OF SERMONS BY SENIOR PASTOR MIKE ATKINS at River Crossing in Jackson, Wyoming (where I attend) that I'm pleased to post.

He talks about how man ceased to be man and became a cheap imitation, a caricature, a cartoon of man when he left God's authority--- until a Man came as a man was meant to be, in the image of God and also God. Atkins says you cannot be a man without God. You cannot take God out of man and have a man left. Man was created to be the dwelling place of God's spirit. When Jesus came to earth, he came not only to reveal God to man, but also to reveal man to man.

Thursday, October 6, 2011

HERE'S A POIGNANT VIDEO of the effects of the August 28 floods from Hurricane Irene after it slammed into New England. No one predicted the speed, force or extent of the deluge. The couple is David and Denise Lloyd of Maple Downs Farm, a small dairy farm in Middleburgh, NY. After listening to this, I have no doubt they will slowly but surely recover and survive by the Grace of God. They are stoic, hard-working New Englanders who farm the bread basket of the American Revolution. Even in all their loss, they find much to be thankful for.

Steve's brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.

His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who were touched by his extraordinary gifts.

**************************His is one of the greatest business/entrepreneur success stories of all time. Much has been and will be said of his brilliance, but now it's enough to know he has left us and to wish his family condolences.

H/T Tom

Quote from book article linked above:

"I've done a lot of things I'm not proud of, such as getting my girlfriend pregnant when I was 23 and the way I handled that," Jobs said, according to the description. "But I don't have any skeletons in my closet that can't be allowed out."

The Barnes & Noble listing said that Jobs was, at times, brutally honest "about the people he worked with and competed against," and his friends and foes were the same.

"He was not a model boss or human being, tidily packaged for emulation," the description said. "Driven by demons, he could drive those around him to fury and despair. But his personality and products were interrelated, just as Apple's hardware and software tended to be, as if part of an integrated system. His tale is thus both instructive and cautionary, filled with lessons about innovation, character, leadership, and values."

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

MORE INTERESTED in other things lately than writing. Been almost five years since I started---a wonderful five---but my interest in writing and a lot I used to read daily, hourly has been waning over the past year. Don't plan to close it down completely but will post less and less frequently as my day-light hours are more consumed with learning new investment skills--like options trading--- Bible studies, outdoor and gym exercise and seeing friends and causes off-line. Interesting how the chapters in our lives slowly change. Thanks for coming by.

ABOVE PHOTO WSJ: BRIGHT IDEA: A woman walked at a new solar power plant named ‘Gemasolar’ in Fuentes de Andalucía, Spain, Tuesday. (Marcelo del Pozo/Reuters

About Me

I'm a southern Christian conservative with a degree in civil & environmental engineering and a passion for the truth of God's Word, writing, hiking, investing, fly fishing, cooking and the great outdoors. My favorite tech invention = spellcheck. There are no such things as rights without responsibility, a free lunch, cheap grace, man-made climate change, successful government engineering, or figuring out when life begins. We're hurling towards the abyss with only One Life-Line: it's not botox, a "living" Constitution, celebrity president, or making nice with Iran. Meanwhile, God gave us His Word, His Son, Grace Upon Grace, family/friends and the greatest country in the world to live--if we can keep it. E-mail: webutante07 at gmail dot com. Thanks for coming by.

O beautiful for heroes proved In liberating strife, Who more than self their country loved And mercy more than life! America! America! May God thy gold refine, Till all success be nobleness, And every gain divine!